Here is a picture of Mathew (my partner of almost 4 years on the far left who helps me with everything and who is teaching me about calm (slowly), Jaya, who is one of the people who sews for us just outside Cochin and one of her staff.
Jaya is one of India's growing breed of bright entrepreneurial women.

She started her own sewing business as a second career (after raising children). She and her staff work in a building just outside of Cochin that is subsidized by the Indian government so that such women will have an opportunity. They are making all kinds of beautiful garments and accessories and home accessories for me out of beautiful hand loomed silks cottons (see the window treatments above) from South India. Many of the fabrics are block printed cotton ("Kalamkari style").